The following article was submitted by Tim Gadzinski, the Marketing Associate for the Manitowoc Public Library.
It’s pretty difficult to look away from the fact that the world—on several levels—is a much smaller, more interconnected place than once it was, isn’t it? From the dissemination of information to the transmission of illness, everything seems to spread quickly.
I’m not politicizing matters by asking that question. Rather, I’m making a comment based on factual observation. Events occur, protocols are enforced or ignored, and an array of institutions either attempt to rise to the occasion or fall somewhat short for a variety of reasons.
As a result, a virus and its variants that established an initial stronghold on the other side of the globe rapidly find their way to the United States and proliferate. And the cycle—up to this point at any rate—appears to be stuck in a repetitive cycle. Regardless of how one believes the situation should be handled, just about everyone is united by a single feeling: frustration.
However, through it all, one constant remains absolutely rock-solid: knowledge is power. And there may be no better source of familiarizing oneself with the activities and situations taking place around the world than the Great Decisions lecture series.
I’ve been involved with Great Decisions since my time on-staff at Manitowoc Public Library began. There’s a notion that’s always been placed front-and-center in every promotional piece we’ve used during that time to call attention to the upcoming year’s lectures: “As global events have increasingly become domestic concerns, the Great Decisions series has become a more vital resource than ever before. It takes you beyond the headlines with essential background information, relevant facts, ever-shifting policy options, and impartial analysis.” Never has this sentiment rang so true or seemed so relevant.
It’s with more than a little pride that I can announce that Manitowoc Public Library will be presenting Great Decisions 2022, our fifteenth year of hosting this preeminent eight-week grassroots lecture series.
With the pandemic continuing to generate uncertainty, MPL has decided to once again shift gears with the format in which the Great Decisions program will be presented to our community. In essence, we’re creating a hybrid method for this season that will hopefully appeal to everyone’s comfort level with social situations. Some of the lectures will be taking place in-person in the Balkansky Community Room with a limited-capacity, registration-required attendance of 50 people, with a virtual livestream of the presentation taking place simultaneously. Some of the lectures will take place exclusively online (due to either a presenter’s comfort level or geographic considerations). The livestreams will be available on both our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/manitowoclibrary) and our YouTube channel. As was the case last year, anyone with a thirst for knowledge and an Internet connection will have the opportunity to discover, discuss, and decide how to meet some of the world’s greatest challenges head-on, every Monday evening at 6 PM in February and March.
Obviously, this is still a very fluid situation—some lectures scheduled to take place in-person may become online only. If we’ve learned anything these past two years it’s that things have become very difficult to predict. The absolute best way to check in on the latest information is to head to www.manitowoclibrary.org/great-decisions/ (where you can also click on specific dates to register for in-person attendance). Additionally, heading to our Facebook page will give you access to up-to-date information.
The best part is that since it’s still going to be a live event—online and in-person attendees and will experience the lectures live, after which they can participate in the Q&A sessions that precede them. If someone is following along online, all they need to do is type a comment or question into the “Comments” box, hit “Send,” and I’ll convey what’s being said to that week’s expert.
The lecture specifics are as follows:
February 7 Drug Policy in Latin America, Pablo Toral, PhD, Beloit College
February 14 Biden’s Agenda, Beth Dougherty, PhD, Beloit College
February 21 Changing Demographics, Alise Coen, PhD, UW-Green Bay (Online Only)
February 28 Quad Alliance, Martin Farrell, PhD, Ripon College (Retired)
March 7 Russia and the U.S., Lowell Barrington, PhD, Marquette University
March 14 Climate Change, Elizabeth Wheat, PhD, UW-Green Bay (Online Only)
March 21 Myanmar and ASEAN, Mary McCoy, PhD, UW-Madison (Online Only)
March 28 Outer Space, Kenneth Phillips, PhD, California Science Center (Online Only)
It’s important to note that the Great Decisions series is a product of the Foreign Policy Association. This nonpartisan, non-profit organization has dedicated itself to a single cause—to increase American awareness of global affairs. In 1918, 141 Americans came together to support President Wilson and his efforts to achieve a just peace. This group was called the League of Free Nations Association. In 1923, they became the Foreign Policy Association, the name by which they are still known. Their mission was, and still is, to study all sides of international questions that may affect the U.S. In 1954, the first Great Decisions program was launched and it’s still going strong sixty-eight years later.
Any discussion about Great Decisions wouldn’t be complete without expressing gratitude to all those that make it possible. The series is generously sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Manitowoc County, Manitowoc Public Library Foundation, Lakeshore Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, and Lakeshore Pax Christi. Their support is tremendously appreciated. Should you feel so inclined to lend your financial support to the Great Decisions series, we would once again direct you to the program’s landing page (www.manitowoclibrary.org/great-decisions/) where information regarding that possibility is readily available.
Whether you’ll be attending online from home or joining us in the Balkansky Room for the select in-person lectures, we look forward to seeing you!